How can we be “Grounded” in a positive way? When I talk about being “Grounded” in the positive sense, I mean exhibiting those traits that keep us mentally and emotionally stable, admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious. We are not born “Grounded.” Over our lifetime, we are either surrounded by people (i.e., parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and friends) who instill these traits in us, or we instinctively know that these traits are necessary, and identify for ourselves the need to acquire them. Without the positive “Grounded” traits, we become selfish, quick to overreact, and likely to freeze up in a crisis situation. If we exhibit that type of behavior, we will not make good employees or friends.
A trait that makes us positively grounded is like an anchor. On a ship, the anchor has to be assembled and deployed properly to hold fast to the sea floor. The anchor must be the correct size relative to the size of the vessel. There must be the proper weight of anchor chain and the anchor must be securely fastened to the chain. There is a line called a rode that connects the anchor chain to the boat. That rode must be securely fastened to both the chain and the boat. And all of that only gets the anchor in a position to be useful. It ultimately takes a person with knowledge of how and when to deploy an anchor to make it useful. Deploy too early, and the anchor slows you down unnecessarily. Deploy too late, and you may be shipwrecked!
Like a ship’s captain, we must be prepared to use our “Grounded In” traits to respond properly in any given situation. If we a) know what the positive anchor traits are, b) introspectively examine ourselves for how “Grounded” we are in these traits and c) continuously ensure they are a part of us, we are in a position to exert influence as a managerial or individual leader. Like an anchor, these traits must be ready for use at a moment’s notice. Like an anchor keeps a boat from blowing away in a storm, “Grounded In” traits will hold us fast in a crisis and provide a sure and steady stronghold against the winds of disaster.
Curious about what the Grounded In anchors are? Stay tuned to find out! Meanwhile, take this survey that will measure your “Grounded Quotient.”
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GQ_Evaluation